Esperian, Mandrell and Wopat perform with student choirs to support multiple causes
(Nashville, Tenn. – July 17, 2013) The Crossroads Celebrity Concert recently returned to The Grand Ole Opry House for its annual event hosted by the West Tennessee Youth Chorus from Memphis. Children’s choirs from all over the country joined together with celebrity artists and orchestra members to perform at the historic venue on July 11, 2013. The concert was the finale to the July 6-12 Crossroads Children’s Chorus Festival. This year’s theme was, “Adversity can be a stepping stone to success,” which was designed to encourage the students to follow their dreams.
Special guest performers included Country legend Irlene Mandrell of the Mandrell Sisters, Broadway and Dukes of Hazzard star Tom Wopat and Metropolitan Opera star Kallen Esperian. The celebrities joined producer Martha Wright, conductor Rick Gabrillo and members of the Nashville Symphony for an enchanting evening of show tunes, country classics, opera hits and more. The children’s choirs accompanied each of the celebrity performers and also performed their own selections.
Martha Wright, the founder and producer, has provided foundational vocal and music training to many degreed musicians and professional artists such as actress and singer Lucy Hale. She is also the choral director for the West Tennessee Youth Chorus, founded in 1996 by Wright as an educational program for vocally and musically gifted children to develop their talents. Wright makes it a point to bring diverse musicians from different music genres together with some of the best international children’s and youth choirs, who rehearse the music all year long in advance of the festival within their respective home choirs.
“This year’s festival was extra special with the involvement of Children’s Miracle Network and Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and their families,” Wright said. “We are excited in addition to provide a life-changing musical experience to the best of young musicians by bringing them to ‘Music City’ and giving them opportunity to perform with world-class musicians and celebrities, along with the good that the festival is now providing in our community.”
The Children’s Miracle Network, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and music education were some of the causes supported at the concert.
Plans are currently underway for the 2014 Crossroads Celebrity Concert. For more information, please visit www.crossroadschildrenschorusfestival.com.
Photo L to R: Opera Star Kallen Esperian, Country music performer Irlene Mandrell, Broadway, Movie and TV star Tom Wopat and producer Martha Wright at the 2013 Crossroads Celebrity Concert
